Flash memory encryption device

ABSTRACT

A flash memory encryption device that enables different types of flash memory cards to be conveniently inserted into or removed from, which comprising: a housing, having an upper housing and a lower cover that can be mutually engaged together for forming a room, wherein the housing further comprises a opening; a printed circuit board, disposed in the room; a first connector, disposed on the printed circuit board and exposed outward the opening for providing at least one memory card being inserted or removed; a controller, disposed on the printed circuit board and coupled to the first connector for receiving data from the first connector and executing encryption or decryption operation then output; and a second connector, disposed on the printed circuit board and coupled to the controller for connecting the flash memory encryption device to a host computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flash memory encryption device thatenables various types of memory cards can be encrypted or decrypted soas to achieve the goal of protecting the data of the memory card.

2. Description of Related Art

Accompanying the science and technology developing, the memory cardmanufacturers had already produced many various type memory cards, suchas SmartMedia, CompactFlash, MMC, Security Digital (SD), Memory Stick,Memory Stick Pro, xD or Microdrive, Memory Stick Duo and Memory StickPro Duo memory card etc., and many card reader were designed to read thedata of the various data.

There were many multi-in-one flash memory card readers had been producedin the markets for reading various memory cards, such as SmartMedia,CompactFlash, MMC, Security Digital (SD), Memory Stick, Memory StickPro, xD or Microdrive, Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick Pro Duo memorycard etc.. However, the prior art flash memory card readers did not haveability of protecting the data of the memory cards being misread byother users, so the memory card owner must keep his/her memory card verycarefully, so as to prevent his/her memory card from losing, due to thedata of the memory cards can be read from any flash memory card reader,therefore, the prior art flash memory card readers could not meet therequirement of data security.

There is therefore a need for a new and improved strategy and techniquefor overcoming these deficiencies and the present invention overcomesthese deficiencies in a new and novel fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a strategy and a technique,which overcomes some or all of the above referenced deficienciesassociated with prior memory card reader.

It is a first non-limited object of the present invention is to providea flash memory encryption device that enables various types of memorycards can be encrypted or decrypted.

According to one non-limited embodiment of the present invention, theflash memory encryption device comprises: a housing, having an upperhousing and a lower cover that can be mutually engaged together forforming a room, wherein the housing further comprises a opening; aprinted circuit board, disposed in the room; a first connector, disposedon the printed circuit board and exposed outward the opening forproviding at least one memory card being inserted or removed; acontroller, disposed on the printed circuit board and coupled to thefirst connector for receiving data from the first connector andexecuting encryption or decryption operation then output; and a secondconnector, disposed on the printed circuit board and coupled to thecontroller for connecting the flash memory encryption device to a hostcomputer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reference of thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an explosive appearance of the flash memoryencryption device in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the enlarge appearance of the first connector 30 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an assembly appearance of the flash memory encryptiondevice in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an assembly appearance of the flash memory encryptiondevice in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, which illustrates an explosive appearance of theflash memory encryption device in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention; as shown in FIG. 1, the flash memory encryptiondevice of the present invention that enables different types of flashmemory cards to be conveniently inserted into or removed from, whichcomprising: a housing 10; a printed circuit board 20; a first connector30; a controller 40 and a second connector 50.

Wherein, the housing 10 is made of plastic material, preferably, and hasan upper housing 11 and a lower cover 12 that can be mutually engagedtogether for forming a room 13, wherein the housing 10 further comprisesa first opening 14, second opening 15, third opening 16 and a hole 17disposed at the front side of the upper housing 11; wherein, the firstopening 14 is used for providing a memory card 60 being inserted into orremoved from the first connector 30. Wherein, the memory card 60 can beSmartMedia, CompactFlash, MMC, Security Digital (SD), Memory Stick,Memory Stick Pro, xD or Microdrive memory card.

The printed circuit board 20 is disposed in the room 13 for conveyingthe first connector 30, controller 40 and second connector 50.

The first connector 30 is disposed on the printed circuit board 20 andexposed outward the opening 14 for providing at least one memory card 60being inserted into or removed from the first connector 30. The firstconnector 30 further comprises a eject mechanism 31 exposed outward fromthe second opening 15 for ejecting the memory card 60 out from the firstconnector 30. Furthermore, for the purpose of fitting the various memorycards 60, the first connector 30 further comprised certain mechanism 32(please refer to FIG. 2). Wherein, the first connector 30 is a PCMCIAconnector with IDE interface.

The controller 40 is disposed on the printed circuit board 20 andcoupled to the first connector 30 for receiving data from the memorycard 60 inserted into the first connector and executing encryption ordecryption operation then output to the second connector 50. Wherein thecontroller 40 is an Application Specification Integrated Circuit (ASIC)with IDE interface and has data encryption and decryption ability.

The second connector 50 is disposed on the printed circuit board 20 andcoupled to the controller 40 for connecting the flash memory encryptiondevice of the present invention to a host computer (figure not shown).Wherein, the second connector 50 is a SATA, IDE, SCSI, USB, Firewire orUSIB interface and the IDE is preferably for matching to the controller40.

Referring to FIG. 2, which illustrates the enlarge appearance of thefirst connector 30 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention; as shown in the FIG. 2, for the purpose of fitting thevarious memory cards 60, such as SmartMedia, CompactFlash, MMC, SecurityDigital (SD), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, xD or Microdrive memorycard, the first connector 30 further comprised certain mechanism 32disposed inside the first connector 30. Wherein, mechanism 32 is a priorart of the connector so the description will not discuss detail here.

Referring to FIG. 3, which illustrates assembly appearance of the flashmemory encryption device in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention; as shown in FIG. 3, while assembling the flash memoryencryption device of the present invention, the printed circuit board 20with the first connector 30, controller 40 and second connector 50 isfirstly disposed and fastened in the room 13 of the lower housing 12,and then covers the upper housing 11 to the lower housing 12 and let thefirst connector 30 be exposed outward the opening 14 so as toconveniently the memory card 60 to be inserted or removed form the firstconnector 30.

For controlling the controller 40 to execute data encryption/decryptionfunction, the flash memory encryption device of the present inventionfurther comprises a lock seat 45 protruded from the third opening 16 andcoupled to the controller 40 through wires 46; whereby a key 47 can beinserted into the lock seat 45 for controlling the controller 40 whetherto execute encryption/decryption data function or not. The controller 40executes data encryption/decryption function when the key 47 is insertedinto the lock seat 45 and turned to an on position, and the controller40 does not execute the data encryption/decryption function when thelock seat 45 is turned off, so the flash memory encryption device of thepresent invention could execute data encryption/decryption function tothe memory card 60 according the status of the lock seat 45.

Furthermore, the flash memory encryption device of the present inventionfurther comprises an indicator, for example but not limited to a LED,disposed on the front edge of the printed circuit board 20 and protrudedfrom the hole 17 for indicating the access status of the flash memoryencryption device.

While operating, the user can connect a cable 70 between the secondconnector 50 of the flash encryption device of the present device to ahost computer (figure not shown), and insert a memory card 60, forexample but not limited to a CompactFlash memory card into the firstconnector 30, then inserts the key 47 into the lock seat 45 and switchesthe key 47 to the on position, then the data wrote to/read from thememory card 60 will be encrypted/decrypted and the memory card 60 cannot be read without using the key 47 of the flash encryption device ofthe present device so as to achieve the goal of protecting the data ofthe memory card 60.

Referring to FIG. 4, which illustrates an assembly appearance of theflash memory encryption device in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present invention; as shown in FIG. 4, the flash memory encryptiondevice of the present invention that enables different types of flashmemory cards to be conveniently inserted into or removed from, whichcomprising: a housing 80; a printed circuit board 20; a first connector30; a controller 40 and a second connector 50.

Wherein the printed circuit board 20, first connector 30, controller 40and second connector 50 has the same function as these parts with sametittles shown in FIG. 1, so please refer to above mention.

The housing 80 can be fitted in a computer housing (not shown), such asa standard 3.5″ drive bay, having a front panel 81 and a room 82,wherein the front panel 81 can be exposed from the computer housing 80and further comprises a first opening 83, second opening 84, thirdopening 85 and a hole 86.

Wherein, the first connector 30 is disposed on the printed circuit board20 and exposed outward the opening 83 for providing at least one memorycard 60 being inserted into or removed from the first connector 30. Thefirst connector 30 further comprises a eject mechanism 31 exposedoutward from the second opening 84 for ejecting the memory card 60 outfrom the first connector 30. Wherein, the first connector 30 is a PCMCIAconnector with IDE interface and the second connector is a SATA, IDE,SCSI, USB, Firewire or USIB interface, preferably.

For controlling the controller 40 to execute data encryption/decryptionfunction, the flash memory encryption device of the present inventionfurther comprises a lock seat 87 protruded from the third opening 85 andcoupled to the controller 40 through wires 46; whereby a key 88 can beinserted into the lock seat 87 for controlling the controller 40 whetherto execute encryption/decryption data function or not. The controller 40executes data encryption/decryption function when the key 88 is insertedinto the lock seat 87 and turned to an on position, and the controller40 does not execute the data encryption/decryption function when thelock seat 87 is turned off, so the flash memory encryption device of thepresent invention could execute data encryption/decryption function tothe memory card 60 according the status of the lock seat 87.

While assembling the flash memory encryption device of the presentinvention, the printed circuit board 20 with the first connector 30,controller 40 and second connector 50 is firstly disposed and fastenedin the room 82 of the housing 80, and then inserts the housing 80 into astandard 3.5″ drive bay of the computer housing (not shown) and let thefirst connector 30 be exposed outward the opening 83 so as toconveniently the memory card 60 to be inserted or removed form the firstconnector 30, finally, connects a cable 70 between the second connector50 to the host computer (not shown).

While operating, the user can insert a memory card 60, for example butnot limited to a CompactFlash memory card into the first connector 30,then inserts the key 88 into the lock seat 87 and switches the key 88 tothe on position, then the data wrote to/read from the memory card 60will be encrypted/decrypted and the memory card 60 can not be readwithout using the key 88 of the flash encryption device of the presentdevice so as to achieve the goal of protecting the data of the memorycard 60.

Furthermore, the flash memory encryption device of the present inventionfurther comprises a cover 89 that can be removably covered over thehousing 80 for protecting the dust inside the computer housing (notshown).

While the invention has been disclosed with reference to preferredembodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications orvariations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of thisinvention, which is defined in the appended claims.

1. A flash memory encryption device that enables different types offlash memory cards to be conveniently inserted into or removed from,which comprising: a housing, having an upper housing and a lower coverthat can be mutually engaged together for forming a room, wherein saidhousing further comprises an opening; a printed circuit board, disposedin said room; a first connector, disposed on said printed circuit boardand exposed outward said opening for providing at least one memory cardbeing inserted or removed; a controller, disposed on said printedcircuit board and coupled to said first connector for receiving datafrom said first connector and executing encryption or decryptionoperation then output; and a second connector, disposed on said printedcircuit board and coupled to said controller for connecting said flashmemory encryption device to a host computer.
 2. The flash memoryencryption device according to claim 1, wherein said housing is made ofplastic material, preferably.
 3. The flash memory encryption deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a secondopening, third opening and a hole located on front side of said upperhousing.
 4. The flash memory encryption device according to claim 3,wherein said first connector further comprise a eject mechanism exposedoutward from said second opening for ejecting said memory card.
 5. Theflash memory encryption device according to claim 3, wherein it furthercomprise a lock seat protruded from said opening and coupled to saidcontroller through wires; whereby a key can be inserted into said lockseat for controlling said controller whether to executeencryption/decryption data function or not.
 6. The flash memoryencryption device according to claim 3, wherein it further comprise apower indicator disposed in said hole and coupled to said controller forindication the access status of said controller.
 7. The flash memoryencryption device according to claim 1, wherein said first connector isa PCMCIA connector that has certain mechanism to fit various memorycards.
 8. The flash memory encryption device according to claim 7,wherein said first connector has an IDE interface.
 9. The flash memoryencryption device according to claim 1, wherein said controller is anApplication Specification Integrated Circuit.
 10. The flash memoryencryption device according to claim 1, wherein said second connector isa SATA, IDE, SCSI, USB, Firewire or USIB interface, preferably.
 11. Aflash memory encryption device that enables different types of flashmemory cards can be conveniently inserted into or removed from, whichcomprising: a housing, fitted in a computer housing, having a frontpanel and a room, wherein said front panel can be exposed from saidcomputer housing and further comprises an opening; a printed circuitboard, disposed in said room; a first connector, disposed on saidprinted circuit board and exposed outward said opening for providing atleast one memory card being inserted or removed; a controller, disposedon said printed circuit board and coupled to said first connector forreceiving data from said first connector and executing encryption ordecryption operation then output; and a second connector, disposed onsaid printed circuit board and coupled to said controller for connectingsaid flash memory encryption device to a host computer.
 12. The flashmemory encryption device according to claim 11, wherein said housing canbe fitted into a standard 3.5″ drive bay of said computer housing and ismade of plastic material, preferably.
 13. The flash memory encryptiondevice according to claim 11, wherein said front panel further comprisesa second opening, third opening and a hole.
 14. The flash memoryencryption device according to claim 13, wherein said first connectorfurther comprise a eject mechanism exposed outward from said secondopening for ejecting said memory card.
 15. The flash memory encryptiondevice according to claim 13, wherein it further comprise a lock seatprotruded from said third opening and coupled to said controller throughwires; whereby a key can be inserted into said lock seat for controllingsaid controller whether to execute encryption/decryption data functionor not.
 16. The flash memory encryption device according to claim 13,wherein it further comprise a power indicator disposed in said hole andcoupled to said controller for indication the access status of saidcontroller.
 17. The flash memory encryption device according to claim11, wherein said first connector is a PCMCIA connector that has certainmechanism to fit various memory cards.
 18. The flash memory encryptiondevice according to claim 17, wherein said first connector has an IDEinterface, and said second connector is a SATA, IDE, SCSI, USB, Firewireor USIB interface, preferably.
 19. The flash memory encryption deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein said controller is an ApplicationSpecification Integrated Circuit.
 20. The flash memory encryption deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein said housing further comprises a coverthat can be removably covered over said housing for protecting the dustinside said computer housing.